And hugo hoffmahit



M y 1929- M. A. s. LUEDTKE ET AL 1.714.794

MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 28, 1929.

M. A. e. LUEDTKE ET AL 1.714.794

MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed Dec. 21, 1925- mmw noentow.

y 28, 1929- M. A. e. LUEDTKE E1- Az. 1,714,794

MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1925) 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mg? 47.6.LL c'qtke A d H1990 Hoff 11mm- Svwembozs 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i May 28, 1929.

Patented May 28, 1929.

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,MAX A. G. LUEDTKE, OF WEEHAWKE'N, NEV! JERSEY, AND HUGO HOFFMANN, NEW YORK, N. Y.

MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING DEVICE.

Application filed December 21, 1925. Serial No. 76,595.

This invention relates to marking, printing and embossing devices. v

An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for branding, embossing, or applying plain or lustrous letters, ornamental designs, monograms, or legends on articles made of leather, leather substitutes, fibre, paper, woven textile fab rics, 'and otner materials, which apparatus shall comprise few and simple parts, shall be compact in construction, relatively cheap to manufacture, easy and simple to manipu-- late, and practical and efficient in operation to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. p i

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of ele ments, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims;

In theaccompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

1 is a plan'view' of a machine embodying theinvention;

F ig. 2 is a front elcvational View taken at a section on line 22 in Fig. 1 showing the frame in its raised position;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine showing the frame in its lowered position;

Fig. 4 is across-sectional viewtaken on line 44 in Fig. 1 showing'the construction of the type disc mounting;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the disposition of the parts with the discs in raised position;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 55 and 66 respectively in Fig. 4;

' Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 in Fig. 3;

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary elevational and plan views respectively showing a modified border type parts being shown in section to illustrate the assembly of the elements i 10 is a fragmentary plan view of another modified form of border type; and

' Fig, 11 is a perspective'view of a fragmental-y portion of the discs, showing the interchangeable type element 111 position. -Rcferrlng 1n detail to the drawing, the

apparatus 10, embodying the invent-ion there shown, is particularly adapted for applying identification initials, monograms, designs, or the like to sweat bands, bags, brief cases, and for like purposes,and is seen to comprise an elongated bed or base 11 having spaced stanchions 12 upstandingat one end thereof, the other endof said base being provided with a raised surface or platen 13 on which the article or material is rested during the operation of branding, embossing, or print ing, as will'hereinafter be described. 1 A frame14 is pivotally mountedto swing on a shaft 15 which is fixedly supported between the upper ends 12 of said stanchio'ns. To retain the frame in'a normally raised position, the pivoted or rear end thereof 'may be made fork-shaped'to accommodate a suitable coil spring 16 wound on the shaft 15 between the forked portions 14 of said end of the frame. The spring 16 is suitably fixed to the shaft '15, preferably at its mid-portion 16, as by screw 17, with the free ends 16 thereof extending to the undersideof said forked portions 14, as shown in Fig. 1. r

The spring 16 is set to urge the ends 16 against the forked portions 14 for normally retaining the frame 14 in a raised position, and for automatically returning said frame to the normal position after being depressed.

Suitable detent'means is provided such as stop 17, projecting from one of the fork portions 14, said stop being adapted to engage the adjacent stanchion 12 for limiting the upward swing of the frame 14, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.- 1

The free end of the frame 14 may be constructed with spaced forwardly extending bracket arms14 bet-ween which a pair of bracing members 14 are disposed. A shaft 18 is rigidly carried to extend transversely of the length of the frame by said arms and members, the members being joined together by a cross bar 14 from which there forwardly extends a handle 19 for swing-ably depressing the frame.

Mounted for rotation on the shaft 18',bctween the bracing members 14 may be one or more discs, comprising set of three in the form shown in the drawing, and consisting of a center disc C, a right disc R, and a left disc L. These discs are adjust-ably mounted on the shaft 18 for movement with respect to each other, and each of them carries on the peripherial surface thereof, in uniform spaced relation, suitable die or type elements 20, such as letters of the alphabet, numerals, or other indicia, from which may be set up and formed a wide and varied range of de sirable combinations of initials, designs, monograms, or legends to be applied to the material or article.

The discs are arranged to be releasably interlocked so as to move as a unit when the type elements are set in a desired combination. For this purpose, the center disc C is mounted to revolve against the collar 21 fixed to theshaft 18, said disc C beingprovided with one or more pins 22 having the ends 22R and 22L extending outwardly from either side of the ,disc C and adapted to engage in holes 23R and 23L provided in concentric rows and uniformly spaced on the sides of the discs R and L facing the pin ends 22 R and 22L respectively, one hole being provided to correspond to each type element carried on the periphery of eachdisc. The mountings for said discs R and L comprise axially extending hollow shafts 24R- and 24L respectively, which are slidab-ly and rotatively supported on the shaft 18. The discs R and L are secured respectively to one end of the hollow shafts 24R- and 24L, and said shafts have suitable knobs 25R and 25L fastened at the other ends thereof to facilitate setting said discs, as will here inafter appear. Suitable springs 26R- and 26L are provided between the bracket arms 149 and the knob ends of the hollow shafts 24B and 24L respectively for normally ret aining the discs C, R and L set so as to interlock and abut each other. (See Figs. 4 and 5).

The type elements 20 carried on the peripherial surfaces of each disc may comprise the twenty-six letters of the alphabet uniformly spaced from each other, and there may also be provided a grooved space 0, 1', and Z in each disc G, L and B respectively, for receiving an interchangeable type element 20, as shown in Figs. 4 and 11.

The type elements may be aligned and set in a desired combination, substantially in the plane of the frame 14 as at V (see Figs. 2 and 3), just above the handle 19, so that the operator has unobstructed view of the aligned type elements during the setting operation.

,With the apparatus 10 having three discs, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, a desired combination of type letters, as, for example, ABA may be set up andaligned as follows: The knob 25L is first pulled out of its normal position and to the left against the action of spring 26L, thus sliding the hollow shaft 24L and the disc L to disengage the pin ends 22L from the holes 23L in the disc L. The discs 23L, thus interlocking discs C and L in the desired combination. The knob 25B is now pulled against the action of the spring 26R thus sliding the hollow shaft 24R and the disc R to the right, out of their normal abutting to its normal position against the disc C, to disengage the a pin ends 22R from the disc holes 23R. The disc R is rotated, free from the other discs, until the third desired type letter, such as'A,

appears at V, in alignment with the type let:

ters already set, completing the sequence of type letters forming the desired combination. On releasing the knob 25R, the spring 26R returns the disc R to its normal abutting position against the disc C, and the pins 22R, re-engage in the disc holes 23R thus interlocking the discs to form a unit.

To bring the desired combination of aligned type letters, ABA, from their set po-- sition at V, as shown in Fig. 2, to brand, emboss, or print the article or material M, resting on the raised surface 13 of the base 12, suitable means is provided for rotating said discs as a unit into efiective contacting position with said material M, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Said means is preferably incorporated in the construction of theapparatus 10 to automatically operate, on depressing the handle 19, and is seen, from Figs. 1, 2 and 4., to comprise a plate 27, secured to rotate with the hollow shaft 24L, said plate being spaced in parallel alignment with the disc L, and

having a concentric row of uniformly spaced perforations 27, corresponding in number to the holes in the disc L. A pin 28 releasably engages in one of said holes for controlling the movement of the interlocked discs as a unit. Said pin may besupported to oscillate in a slot 29 formed in a depending arm 29 of a cross-head 29, the latter being reciprocatingly mounted on an overhanging slideway 30 which is rigidly secured to the frame 14: so as to extend over said plate. The pin 28 connects with one end of a link 32, the other end of said link being secured to an arm 33, of a crank member 33 mounted on the frame 14 for rocking on a pivot shaft 34 journaled in bearing lugs 35 of said frame. Said crank member 33 has a projecting cam traveler 36 for riding on a fixed cam 36 which is formed on an extended end of a bracket 37 rigidly securedon the base 11 by bolts 37 adjacent the stanchions 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

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The traveler 86 is retained against said 021111.36 through the action of a tension spring 38 which has one end 38 anchored to a rear 'wardly extending portion 30 of slideway type letter setting position to their effective position for contacting with the material M will now be apparent. On depressin the handle 19 the frame 14 is swung downwardly and the cam traveler 36", riding on the cam 36, rocks the crank member 33 on the shaft 34 and moves the link 82, pin 28, and crosshead 29 forward against the act-ion of the spring 38. The pin 28, being in engagement with the plate 27 rotates the interconnected discs as a unit on the shaft 18. Preferably the cam guide 36 is designedto complete the rotary motion given the discs before the frame 14' reaches its lowermost position, so that the discs are relatively station ary with respect to the frame just before and during the time the type letters contact witl the article or material Upon releasing the handle 19, the frame will automatically return to its raised position through the action of spring 16, and the tension spring 38 will retract the cross-head 29'and return the discs to their normal position for setting. I

Where ordinary or plain printing is to' be done by the apparatus 10, a suitable form of ink applying device (not shown) may be used to ink the type elements in any manner well understood in the art. Such device is preferably installed just below the handle 19 so that'the type elements are inked as the discs are revolved on the shaft 18 during the lowering movement of the-frame 14, as described above. I So that the-apparatus 10 may be used for branding, embossing, or: applying lustrous letters, a suitable heating means for the type elements is provided. Said means may comprise an electric heater coil 40 of any suitable construction embedded in a channelled annular holder 41 suitably insulated and mounted on the disc C adjacent the peripherial surface thereof, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. concentrically disposed slip rings 42 supported on an insulating member 43, are

mounted to turn with said disc 0, and suit able brushes 44 for connecting the heater coil 40 toends 46 of the conductor wires 46 are supported on an insulting member 45, which,

in turn, is rigidly mounted on the shaft 18.

Said member 45 also serves as a collar to prevent side displacement of disc 0 alongshaft 18.

The conductor wires 46 may be arranged to pass through a central passage 18 in the shaft 18 and may be disposed in a channel groove 14 extending along the frame 14.

The ends 46 of said conductor wires may extend through an axial opening l5 provided in the shaft 15 and maybe terminated by a receptacle 4" of a detachable fitting having a cap 47- adapted to be connected with a suitable electric power source (not shown) by means of a portable conductor 48.

The discs C, R and L are preferably made of copper, bronze, brass, aluminum or other material having a relatively high heat conductivity so that the discs R and L are readily heated to the required working temperature by contact with the disc C.

In'branding or plain embossing an article, or material M, the coil 40 is first connected to the power source for heating the type letters which, after havingbeen set, are forced against the article or material M by applying pressure on the handle 19.

-By interposing a metallic foil or leaf of gold, silver, aluminum, or "other metal, or composition between the heated type letters and the article or material M, lustrous letters maybe stamped or printed on the latter. For

automatically feeding such foil in proper operating sequence, a strip feeding mechanism F may be incorporated in the apparatus, 10. In the form shown in'the drawing, said mechanism comprises a pair of spools 50 and 51 revolubly mounted on shafts 52 and 53 respectively, which are suitably supported from the frame bracing members 14". A supply of strip material 54 is carried 011 spool 50. Said strip material has one side thereof coated with a metallic foil, (not shown) from which the lustrous letters are formed, and is fed between the type elements and the platen 13 with the coated side facing-down. Any suitable strip material or metal foil such as is in commercial use may be employed.

' Stretcher spacers 55' and 56 are mounted on the coiled ends 5'? and 58 of spring arms 57 and 58 respectively. the latter being supported on the shafts 52 and 58. Said stretcher spacers are adapted to guide the strip material 54 across the discs and to hold it out of contact therewith when the frame 14 is in raised position, as shown in Fig. 4

Coupled to spool shaft 52 through a universal joint 60 is a drive shaft 61 journaled in a bearing 62 of a hanger 63. Said shaft 61 has secured thereto a pair of oppositely set ratchet wheels 64 and 65 and has loosely vmounted on the free end thereof apinion 66,

the latter engaging with a fixed arcuate rack 67 secured to one'of the stanchions 12. Pawls 68 and 69. co-operate with the ratchet wheels 64 and 65 respectively, pawl 68 being mounted on the hanger 63, and pawl 69 being car ried by the pinion 66. As seen from Fig. 3, the feeding mechanism F will beeffective to advance the strip material 54 only on the re-' turn motion of the frame 14 to its raised position, when the pawl 69 and ratchet wheel 65 will interlock With'the pinion, while on downward travel of said frame, the pawl 68 will retain the wheel 64 against reverse rotation while the pawl 69 slips over the wheel 65, as will be readily understood.

In using the invent-ion, the portable conductor 48 is connected to an electric power source to heat the type elements on the discs. By manipulating the knobs R, 25L as described above, the discs are set so that the desired combination of letters or other devices of the type elements appear. at V. A brief case or other article M is then positioned 011 the platen 13 and the handle 19 depressed, thus causing the discs to be rotated as a unit to the printing position, that is, facing the platen 13. As the frame 14 descends, the type elements engage the strip material 54 to press the foil or coated side thereof against the material M. The heat from the type elements causes the foil to adhere to the material in outline to correspond to the shape or design of thetype or other characters on the type elements.

In Figs. 6, 8, 9, and 10 are shown various means of providing a type border design. In

the simplest form (see Fig. 10) the type letters 7 0 have surrounding border portions 71 formed integral therewith, said portions being constructed so as toalign with similar border portions of the type elements on the adjacent disc so as to form a substantially continuous border when the type letters are set up.

In Fig. 6 (see also Figs. 4 and 4 the type border 80 is formed on a separate member 8O which is supported by the stretcher spacers 55 and 56 on links 81. Said member 80 is provided with a central opening 80 through which the type elements 20 are adapted to project to align with said border 80 To assure perfect alignment the upper side of the rim portion of said opening 80 is made with a bevelled seat 80 forreceiving the charmfered outer edges 82 of the discs R and L. As seen from Fig. 4, the links 81 normally hold the member 80 spaced from the discs C, R and L and, the strip material 54, and on the downward movement of the frame 14, said discs first engage with the member 80, aligning the border 80 with the type elements which thereafter are applied in unison to the material M. By making member 80 of relatively good heat conducting material, it will transmit heat, while in contact with the discs C, R and L, to the border 80 and will form a lustrous border design on the article or material M, simultaneously with the application of the letters from the type ele ments.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, the type border 90 here shown is formed on a member 90 which is adapted to be detachably mounted on the discs C, R and L, said member being provided with a central opening 90 through which the type elements 20 project for alignment with the border 9O when said member is mounted in position on the discs. The frame handle 99 is constructed with a plunger 91 extending axially therethrough,

said plunger having a control knob 92 at the outer end thereof and a bifurcated portion 93 attached at the inner end, the portion 93 be ing adapted to be reciprocated by the plunger over the cross bar 14 A suitable compression spring 94 is provided between the handle 99 and the knob 92 for normally retaining the plunger 91 and the bifurcated portion 93 in retracted position. The portion 93 may have a pair of inwardly extending, aligned pins 93 adapted to engage in side slots 90 of said member 90. I

To hold the member 90 against accidental displacement when mounted on the discs, spaced lug portions 90 are provided on said member, said portions 90 being constructed to receive the rim portions of the discs C, R and L between them and to house a suitable spring detent, such as the spring pressed balls 7 said depressions may be provided to facilitate the mounting and dismounting of the member 90. The operation of applying the border member 90 in position on the discs is as follows: With the plunger 91 in retracted position, the member 90 is mounted over the cross bar 14 with the pin 93 in the slots 90. After the type elements 20 have been set in the desired sequence at V, the plunger knob 92 is pushed in, causing the member 90 to move toward the discs, the balls 95 entering the grooves 97. When the member 90 is all the Way in, the balls 95 seat themselves in the de pression 96 and the handle 99 is then depressed to imprint the article or material M.

It will be noted that the pins 93 leave the slots 90 when the member 90 rotates with the discs and re-enter the said slots on the return of the frame 14 and discs to their normal raised positions. On releasing the knob 92, the plunger is 1'etracted,and disengages and carries the member 90 with it, so that the discs are left free to permit changing the setting of the type elements 20.

As has been described above, grooved spaces a, 1', and 1 may be provided in the periphery of the discs C, R and L respectively for receiving an interchangeable type element 20. To this end, the grooved spaces 0, r, and Z are aligned at V in the usual manner by setting the discs, then the element 20 is slipped in j By making the element 20 of material of relative high heat conductivity, it willbecome I As various possible embodiments might be made of the aboveinvention, and as various changes mightbemade inthe embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-' :1

V 1; An apparatus of the'character described comprising a plurality of type elements mounted for movement relative to. each other, means, for rotating and sliding all but one of said elements with respect to the other elements for selectively aligning same, means to support an article, and means for bringing the type elements and article into contact.

2. Inan' apparatus-of the character described, a plurality of discs parallelly mounted-for movementrelative to each other, type elements carried on the peripherial. surface of. each disc, and means to slide all but one disc for releasably interlocking said discs with said elements aligned in a desired sequence. v 3. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of discs parallelly'mounted for movement relative to each other, type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, meansfor selectively aligning said elements, and means for releasably interlocking said discs with said elements, some of said discs being slidably mounted, at least one of said discs being non-slidably mounted in aligned position.

4.. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of discs parallelly mounted for movement relative to each other, type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, a border type member releasably engaging said discs for outlining said elements, said border member normally being spaced from said discs and means for releasably interlocking said discs with said outlined elements. aligned in a desired sequence.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of discsparallelly mounted forimovement'relative to each other, type 1 elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, means for selectively aligning said elements, means for. releasably interlocking said discs with said elements releasably engaging said discs in alignment, a borderivtype member for outlining said. elements, said border member normally being spaced from said discs. and means for actuating the outlined elements as aunit.

6. In .anapparatus of the character dee scribed, a plurality of discs parallelly mounted for movementrelativeto; each other, type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, means for releasably interlock ing said discs with said elements aligned in a desired sequence, some of said discs being slidably mounted, at least one of said discs being non-slidably mounted and means carried by said discs for heating said elements.

,7. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of discs parallelly mount-. ed for movement relative to each other, type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, a border type member for outlinin saidelements, means for releasably inter ockingsaid discs with said outlined elements aligned in, a' desired sequence, and means carried by said discs for-heating said elements and border member. a 5

8, In an apparatus of the character described, a'plurality of discs parallelly mounted for movement relativeto each other, type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, means for selectively aligning said elements, means for releasably interlocking said discs with said elements in alignment, a border type member for outlining said elements, means carried by said discs for heating said elements and border member and means for actuating the outlined-ele- 'of eachdisc, a bordertype member for outlining said elements, normally spaced from said discs, means for releasably interlocking said discs with'said outlined elements aligned in a desired sequence, said border type being movable into alignment with said type elements, and means for feeding a strip in spaced relation with respect to the aligned, border member and type outlinedelements, as and for the purpose described and specified.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of discs parallelly mounted for movement relative to each other, type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, means/for releasably interlocking said discs with said elements alignedin a desired sequence, means carried by said discs for heating said elements, and means for feed a strip over the said heated aligned elements.

11.'- In an apparatus of thecharacter described, a plurality of discs parallelly mounted for movement relative to each other, type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, a border. type member for outlining said elements, means for releasably interlocking said discs with said outlined eleing said elements and border member,

means for feeding a strip over the heated outlined elements, and means for actuating the heated outlined elements and strip feeding means as a unit.

13. An apparatus of the character described comprising a shaft, a plurality of discs mounted thereon for rotation relative to each other, and type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, some of said discs being slidably mounted along said shaft and at least one disc non-slidably mounted on said shaft for releasably interlocking with said slidable discs for aligning said elements in a desired sequence.

:14. An apparatus of the character described comprising a shaft, a plurality of discs mounted thereon for rotation relative to each other, and type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, and

means for slidably moving all but one of said.

discs along the shaft for releasably interlocking the discs with said elements aligned in a desired sequence. v 15. An apparatus of the character described comprising a shaft, a plurality of discs mounted thereon for rotation relative to each other, and type'elements carried "on the peripherial surface of-each disc, at least one of said discs being slidably mounted on said shaft for releasably interlocking said discs with said elements aligned in a desired sequence, and means for heating said elements movably mounted with said discs.

16.-A,n" apparatus of the character described comprising a shaft, a plurality of discs mounted thereon for rotation relative to each other, and type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, at least one of said 'discs being slidably mounted on said shaft for releasably interlocking said discs with said elements aligned in a desired sequence, andla' coil for heating said elements carried by one of said discs.

17..An apparatus of the character described comprising a shaft, a plurality of 'discs mounted thereon for rotation relative to each other, and type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, and means forslidably moving all but one of said discs'along the shaft for releasably interlocking the discs with said elements aligned in a said non-slidably mounted disc for heating said elements.

"19. In an apparatus ofthe character de-' scribed, a plurality of discs parallelly mounted for movement relative to-each other, typeelements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, said discs having at least one grooved space between said type elements, and

means for releasably interlocking said discs with said elements and grooved spaces.

aligned in a desired sequence.-

20. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of discs parallelly mounted for movement relative to each other,type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, said discs having at least one grooved space between said type elements.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of discs parallelly mounted for movement relative to each other, type elements carried on the peripherialsurface of each disc, a demountable type element, each disc having at least one grooved space between said type element for receiving said demountable type elements, and means for setting the discs with said elements and grooved spaces aligned in a desired sequence.

22. In an apparatusof the character 'described, a plurality of discs parallell mounted for movement relative to each ot er, type elements carried on the peripherial surface of each disc, a demountable type element, each disc having at least one grooved space between said type element, means for selectively aligning said elements and grooved spaces, and means for interlocking said discs with said groove spaces aligned for receiving said demountable type element.

23. An apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of discs, spaced type elements carried on the peripherial surfaces of said discs, a demountable type element, each disc having at least one grooved space between said spaced type elements for receiving said demountable type element, means for selectively aligning said elements on the discs, means adapted to support an article and means for bringing the aligned elements and article in contact.

24:. An apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of discs, spaced type elements carried on the peripherial surfaces of said discs, av demountable typeelement,

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comprising a plurality of discs, spaced type for selectively aligning said elements on the discs, a border t pe member for outlining said elements, means spaced from the outline ele ments adapted to support an article, and means for bringing the outlined elements and article in contact as and for the purpose described and specified. I

26. An apparatus of the character described elements carried on the peripherial surfaces of said discs,a demountable type element, each disc having at least one grooved space between said spaced type elements for receiving said demountable type elements,

means for selectively aligning said elements on the discs, a border type member for outlining said elements, means spaced from the outlined elements adapted to support an article, means for interposing a foil between the outlined elements and the article, and means for bringing the outlined elements, foil, and article in contact, as and for the purpose described and specified.

27. An apparatus of the character described comprisin a plurality of discs, spaced type elements carried on the peripherial surfaces of said discs, a demountable type element, each disc having at least one grooved space between said spaced type elements for receiving said demountable type elements, means for selectively aligning said elements on the discs, a border type member for outlining said elements, means spaced from the outlined elements adapted to support an article, means for interposing a foil between the outlined elements and the article, means for heating the out-lined elements and means for bringing the heated outlined elements, foil and article in contact as an for the purpose described and specified.

28. In an apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of type elements mounted for movement relative to each other, means for selectively aligning said elements in unobstructed view of the operator, means spaced from the elements adapted to support-an article, and means for bring ing the type elements and article in contact,

as and for the purpose described and specified.

29. In a marking apparatus of the character described, a platen adapted to support an article to be marked, type elements rotatably mounted in spaced relation to the platen, electric means for heating said elements, means for feeding a strip coated with a metallic substance between the platen and type elements, and means for bringing the disc and heated type elements against the strip for contacting with the article.

30. In a marking apparatus of the character described, a platen adapted to support an article to be marked, a disc rotatably mounted and normally positioned in spaced relation to said platen, type elements mounted on the disc, an electric heating means carried by the disc heatingsaid elements, means for feeding a strip coated with a metallic substance between the platen and type elements, and means for bringing the disc and heated type elements against the strip for contacting the article.

31. In a printing machine, a support, a plurality of type Wheels mounted on said support, means forpositioning said wheels so that a desired combination appears at a predetermined position, and means for moving said support, to printing position and simultaneously moving said combination to be positioned for making a desired imprint when said support reaches the printing position.

32. In a printing machine, a support, a plurality of type wheels mounted on said support, means for positioning said wheels so that a desired combination appears at a predetermined position, and means for moving said support to printing position and simultaneously moving said combination to be positioned for making a desired imprint when said support reaches the printing position, and means for simultaneously returning said support and said combination to their initial positions.

33. In combination, a plurality of wheels having a plurality of separated type elements on the periphery thereof, means for setting up said elements in any desired sequence, means for making a border imprint in relation to said type element, said border means being normally spaced from said type elements, means for moving said set up type elements into printing position, said border means contacting with said type elements before said elements contact the part to be imprinted, and then movable simultaneously with said elements to imprinting position.

In testimony whereof we a'liix our signatures. I

MAX A. G. LUEDTKE. HUGO HOFFMANN. 

